A Saturday for science

Students take part in Northern Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

Students take part in Northern Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair.

March 22, 2009|By JAMIE LOO Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Testing to see if a wind turbine would work well in your backyard is so easy a junior high student could do it. Seriously. About 275 students from more than 50 public and private schools in St. Joseph, Elkhart, Fulton and Marshall counties showed off their science prowess at the Northern Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair Saturday at the University of Notre Dame. The science, engineering and mathematics projects were done by students in grades three through 12. While science fair favorites such as volcanoes and mold were present, students also tackled many of today's issues such as green energy solutions through wind, solar and biodiesel experiments. Kayleigh Craig, a seventh-grader from Triton Jr.-Sr. High School, explored solar energy. States like California have sunshine year round so solar energy is a sensible solution, she said, but in Indiana the winter months bring many cloudy days. Craig tested how much solar energy is absorbed on a cloudy day versus a sunny day. Marian High School senior Colin Leader said his project was inspired by the Mattel toy recalls. He tested lead levels and other toxins in toys made in China versus the United States by doing X-ray fluorescence tests. As an avid swimmer, Andrew Fair's project was on whether pool water is cleaner when swimmers shower before taking the plunge. The fourth-grader from Walt Disney Elementary School said he did 10 days of pH testing at the YMCA of Michiana pool monitoring the acidity and alkalinity levels before and after swim team practices. Fair said he found that if swimmers take showers before going into the pool, less chlorine is needed to keep it clean. Fair said he wants to see how the results would be different in the summer, when people are sweaty and have different body pH. He said he also wants to try a backyard pool experiment. "I want to grow up to be a chemical engineer," Fair said. "My whole life is science. It's fun to figure out things." Some projects combined human behavior with science such as whether cell phones distract drivers. St. Pius X Catholic School seventh-grader Gena Keszei used the lunchroom at her school to test honesty and raise money for Shriners Hospitals for Children. "I really wanted to do a fundraiser for this hospital and find a way to tie it into my project," said Keszei, who has received treatment from a Shriner's hospital. For three days during lunch time, Keszei sold lollipops with one sales location that was always monitored and another that was unmonitored. The students were not told that it was part of a science experiment. Keszei said the test was to see if students would take lollipops from the unmonitored area without donating. Keszei said she was happy to find that no lollipops were missing, and that students donated $35 just to help, without wanting the candy. About 150 special awards were given and the top two outstanding senior level projects from the grade 9 through 12 category will have a chance to compete in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Reno, Nev., in May. Up to nine additional projects from grades 4 to 12 will be chosen to compete at the Hoosier Science and Engineering Fair on April 4 in Indianapolis. The Tribune will publish the winners list in the Community section next week. Staff writer Jamie Loo: jloo@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6337